BEST HOLIDAY WISHES TO EVERYONE...

2006 is slowly approaching its end... 2007 is waiting to start it's journey very soon. I wish to extend holiday greetings to our extended family in the Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan® World. It is a very large family and I can only state how "proud and privileged" I am to be a part of it.


Please keep all our brothers and sisters who place their lives in "harm's way" on a daily basis for ...US... in your thoughts and prayers and hopefully those thoughts and prayers will provide them with the courage to continue doing what they do on a daily basis. Our Nation's military! Many of our Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan® brothers and sisters serving in uniform are returning home this holiday season, we wish them a safe return and a very Happy New Year and that they get the opportunity to spend quality time with their families and some quality time in the their respective dojangs.

Last but surely not least, keep Frank Schermerhorn Sa Bom Nim
and his family, in your daily thoughts and prayers so he can have a permanent recovery in his fight; as we have always appreciated his humble leadership, his strong example and countless contributions to us.

Respectfully submitted,

...and Happy New Year.

R Bonefont Sr.

HELP US NOMINATE...

photo courtesy of the U.S. Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan Federation Inc.™

Vic Martinov, Sa Bom Nim
as 2006 Man of the Year







I hope this email finds you in great health and spirits.

I am sending this email to Registered Studio Vision Tour Committees in hopes that you will get the word out quickly to your fellow practitioners. This can be done through email, class announcements or class flyer. If you have access to your regional Yahoo Group, that would also be appreciated (if not already done).

Kwan Jang Nim H.C. Hwang would be honored if members moved quickly to action over the next 8 days and voted for his nominee, Senior Advisory Committee member, Vic Martinov, Sa Bom Nim as 2006 Man of the Year in Black Belt Magazine's Hall of Fame.


With only 8 days left until the JUNE 15th deadline for the 2006 Hall of Fame Voting ends, is it possible for the Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan membership to move quickly enough and in suffcient number to induct another well-respected member of our Federation into the 2006 Black Belt Magazine Hall of Fame as 2006 Man of The Year?

Wouldn't that be a SUPER birthday gift from the Federation's members for one of our Charter Members, a former Chairman of the Board of Directors, a former TAC member, a recently featured instructor at the prestigious Guardians of the Art Seminar Series and personal instructor to some of the highest ranking members in the U.S. Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan Federation Inc.?

What better way to honor our history than to successfully vote Sa Bom Nim Vic Martinov into Black Belt Magazine's Hall of Fame as 2006 Man of the Year? What better way to demonstrate our philosophy in action than by doing it in only 8 days!?

The link to cast your vote is

http://www.blackbeltmag.com/forms/hall_of_fame.cfm

Pass it on to everyone that would like to support the nomination.

Yours in the Moo Duk Kwan,

Joshua Duncan

Region 9

HISTORY OF THE MOO DUK KWAN® FIST

CLICK ON THE FIST ABOVE TO READ ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE MOO DUK KWAN® FIST, AN INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED SYMBOL OF MARTIAL ARTS EXCELLENCE. The excellent article is written by Phil Duncan, Sa bom Nim, our Federation Executive Administrator. SOO BAHK!

The Strong Link Between Soo Bahk Do™ and Character Education

Master Roberto Bonefont, Sr. (left) and Allen Ruqus, Sa bom Nim (right) at the "Fitness Night" in Poughkeepsie, New York


On Wednesday April 26th, The President's Vision Tour Committee of Baran's Soo Bahk Do™ participated in a local Elementary School's Fitness Night. The Oak Grove Elementary School, located in Poughkeepsie, New York, hosted their annual "Fitness Night." The event is organized by the Physical Education department to bring increased awareness to Parents about their children's physical wellness. The school invites local businesses that cater to physical wellness.

The PVT Committee of Baran's Soo Bahk Do™ received an invitation to attend. The Committee setup the Federation Display and printed up some trifold handouts to give to parents and students. The trifold provided them with information on class schedules, a brief history of the Soo Bahk Do™ Moo Duk Kwan® martial art, and a short piece on the increasing need for "Character Education" for our children.

Through the use of Soo Bahk Do™ Moo Duk Kwan® training, children are guided through the various facets of "Character Education" that are taught through the use of the "Eight Key Concepts", our "Five Moo Do Values" and many other aspects of the Moo Duk Kwan® Philosophy. Basic to any character education, it concentrates on teaching children how to successfully meet life's challenges, by learning about responsibility, ethical behavior, developing and understanding trust, being respectful or learning about citizenship; it is this basic instruction that every Soo Bahk Do™ instructor probably teaches everyday, but may not label it "Character Education." Don't we teach our students how to meet life's challenges through the training they receive? Of course we do.

Not wanting to use the word "We" because I'm not a studio owner, but as loyal practitioners, we certainly are aware of our art's philosophy and it is the philosophy that affects our students, practitioners (parents and friends too) and keeps them in the dojang. There is a solid link between Soo Bahk Do™ Moo Duk Kwan® and character education, it's important that we keep that link strong through our training.

"Our Vision in Action"

Respectfully Submitted,
Roberto Bonefont, Sr.
Region 2

Soo Bahk Do™ bon Hyung

Thanks to J Willers for posting this video on Google Video. Hope you enjoy it.

Soo Bahk!

Click the Play button below to watch a short video